Bahamas News

The Bahamas is said to be the first nation in the world to protect coral reefs, and environmentalists along with tour operators are calling on the government to make the once protected sea gardens a marine park and nearby Athol Island a national park.

In their protests against Kerzner International’s proposed golf course for the island, the tour operators said recently that they want the island to remain a tranquil peaceful getaway where tourists can see nature preserved.

“The Bahamas was the first nation in the world to protect coral reefs and it is a blatant disgrace to have them destroyed for a golf course,” said Sam Duncombe while taking members of the media on a tour to Athol Island yesterday.

She said that if we allow our heritage and history to be destroyed for “economic development” we will have some very serious questions to answer our children on.

“What will happen to the livelihood of the many people who use the areas now?” she said. Duncombe said that she finds it very hard to believe that the government was unaware that some nine tour operators use the area daily and bring thousands of tourists to the site yearly.

The cove area on the island, along with some 35 adjoining acres of ocean space, will be filled in to extend the island. This larger size is expected to accommodate the golf course and possible future developments on the island.

However if this portion of the sea is filled to make Athol Island larger, the sea gardens will be virtually destroyed.

All attempts by the Guardian to reach officials at Kerzner International on the Guardian’s behalf have been unsuccessful.

The tour operators and environmentalist like Mrs Duncombe are requesting the government to stop the development and make Athol Island a national park and the surrounding ocean a marine park similar to that being proposed for Clifton Cay.

Duncombe said that Athol Island is one of the last natural untouched pieces of land in the New Providence and Paradise Island chain and if that is destroyed, “We will have virtually nothing left.” The Act to Protect the Sea Gardens came into effect in 1892 and was rescinded by The Bahamas government in 1986. From that time on, it has been said that the ‘world’s oldest sea gardens’ no longer exist legally.